如何玩转Instagram 美国青少年支招

Let’s face it: Instagram is a game; cutthroat and at times agonizing. Garnering likes and followers is no easy task unless you’re a Kardashian (or have dated one).

我们得承认：Instagram抓拍神器是一个游戏；它需要你与人PK谁拍的好，有时又让你苦恼。除非你是卡黛珊(欧版范冰冰)，或是有卡黛珊这样的女友，否则得到更多的“赞”、拥有更多的粉丝可不是容易事。

But your social media luck is about to change, because I have a social media whiz to help step up your Instagram game.

但是你的社交媒体好运来了——我找了个社交媒体达人教你如何玩转Instagram。

Who have I enlisted to “achieve Instagram fire,” in her own words? My teenage sister, Grace.

猜我请了谁？用她的话来说，猜我请谁来“点燃Instagram之火”呢？我还未成年的妹妹格蕾丝（Grace）。

Let’s face it: Teenagers are tastemakers. My sister routinely breaks 150 likes on Instagram, no sweat, because she just GETS it. Thankfully she was able to take time out of her busy schedule and break down the science of Instagram for us “old” folk. Here’s what to do and, more important, what not to do on the image-sharing app.

我们得承认：青少年是时尚引领者。格蕾丝在Instagram上经常毫不费力地突破150个“赞”，因为她掌握了其中的规律。很谢谢她在百忙之中抽出时间，为我们这些“老”家伙分步讲解如何玩转Instagram。下面是她讲的玩Instagram这款图像分享应用时的该做什么，以及不该做什么的注意事项，后者更重要。

These are the Rules of Instagram:

玩转Instagram的规则

1. Timing is EVERYTHING.

时机就是一切

Rule No. 1 of Instagram: You can’t post photos willy-nilly. Think of it like sneaking grapes at the grocery store when a clerk isn’t watching: TIMING IS EVERYTHING.

玩转Instagram的首要规则是：不要随随便便晒照片。要知道时机就是一切。想象你在杂货店，要趁店员不注意的那一刻偷葡萄。道理相同：把握时机。

So when DO you actually post? Sunday evening is “prime time” for likes, according to my sister, because “everyone is bored and not doing homework.” I guess that applies to the real world too!

那么你什么时候晒照片最好呢？格蕾丝说，周日晚上是得到“赞”的“黄金时间”，因为“每个人都很无聊，也没有作业要做。”我想这个道理在现实生活中也适用！

When not to post? Mornings! The likes are “weird and sporadic.”

什么时候不要晒照片呢？早上！那些“赞”都很分布得“很奇怪、很零散”。

2. Also, don’t post too much.

不要发布太多内容

I don’t care how much you’re feeling your look. No one needs to see eight pictures from your date night out with bae. This isn’t a buffet; we want small, indulgent morsels of your life. Remember, as my sister recommends, “You can’t give the people too much or they will be over it real quick.”

我不在乎你觉得自己的外貌如何。但是没人想看八张你和另一半约会的照片。这不是自助餐，越多越好；我们只是想一窥你生活中少量片段。记住，像格蕾丝建议的那样，“你不能给别人太多信息，否则他们会很快略过。”

If you’re posting three to four times a week, my sister says to “reevaluate your life” and “chill a bit.” I see no lies!!!

如果你一周发布三到四次，那么你就要（用格蕾丝的话说）“再审视一下你的生活”然后“稍微少发布点图片”。我觉得这是实话！！！

3. BUT if it is a big week in your life, feel free to post more than usual.

如果这周有很多值得分享的东西，那就随性多发布点吧。

Of course, there’s always the exception to the rule. After all, Instagram was meant to chronicle important moments in your life. The social media gods shouldn’t punish you for having a lot going on! Just remember to take it easy after, my sister said.

当然，规则之外总有特例。毕竟，Instagram的目的是用来记录生活中的重要点滴。格蕾丝说，社交媒体之神不应该因你有很多需要分享的东西而惩罚你！发布了就发布了，不要太在意。

If it’s Rush, or Homecoming, or the holidays, “don’t feel bad for instaing a lot. It happens,” according to my sister. “Just make sure you chill out afterwards and let the people want more.”

如果是的Rush演唱会上，或者校友欢迎会上，或者假日，那就尽情发布吧，“不要因发布太多而担心。这是常有的事，”格蕾丝说，“发布后你自己再缓和一阵，好让人们期待更多。”

4. Selfies have STRICT rules.

自拍有严格要求

You can’t spell “selfie” without “sel” (minus an “l”), so think of it this way: You’re selling your look. By the simple capitalist laws of supply and demand you need to leave the people wanting more, according to my sister.

你不能写“自拍”时没了“自”（去掉了“我”），不妨这样来思考：你在销售你的外貌。格蕾丝说，由简单的资本供需规律可知，你需要让人们不满足，想要更多。

Basically, don’t just go around throwing up random selfies like the world is ending tomorrow. It’s not a cute look. Here’s what my sister had to say about selfies:

从根本上来说，不要像明天是世界末日一样到处随意发布自拍。这样做并不可爱。下面是格蕾丝关于自拍的建议：

a. Be “spontaneous and fun.”

自然而有趣

b. “Not all the time” aka DO THEM SPARINGLY. “If you think you look good in a selfie fine Instagram it but wait a while before you do it again.”

“不要无时无刻”发布，即“不要无节制”发布。“如果你觉得自己拍出一张很美的自拍，很好，在Instagram上发布它，但是在你再次自拍前稍微间隔一点时间会更好。”

c. Selfies are “not to be taken seriously.”

不要把自拍“看得太严肃”。

d. “Selfies should only be when you have a GOOD one.”

好的自拍才叫自拍。

5. Filters are not for Instagram.

不要用Instagram自带的滤镜

Your first instinct when you post an Instagram pic? Probably “What filter should I use?” BUT YOU’RE DEAD WRONG. More wrong than whoever decided Pumpkin Spice Oreos were a good idea.

你用Instagram发布一张图片时，你的第一反应是什么？或许是“我该用什么滤镜”。但是你完全错了。这比南瓜酱奥利奥错得更离谱。

My sister was adamantly against using Instagram filters, even with the new additions to the app. She said to “NEVER USE KELVIN!!!!!!”and download outside apps that have filters like VSCO and Afterlight instead.

格蕾丝坚决反对使用Instagram的滤镜，即使是用这个应用的新附加功能。她说，“不要使用KELVIN”。她下载带滤镜的其他应用，如VSCO和Afterlight来代替Instagram的滤镜。

6. Keep your caption game strong.

让你的配图文字有力

Think of your Instagram caption as the icing on top of the cake. Yeah, a cake is pretty good in and of itself. But the icing can seal the deal for you! Because, seriously, who wants cake with bad icing? Or an Instagram with a bad caption, for that matter?

将你的配图文字视为蛋糕上的糖霜。是的，蛋糕好不好在于本身。但是糖霜能起决定性作用！因为，严格来讲，谁会想要一个糖霜不好看的蛋糕？或者一张配文字不好的图片？

My sister’s advice for your Instagram captions? Don’t tag people in the actual caption (it’s too “messy”) and use emojis to “spice it up.” As for hashtags? You should ONLY be using them ironically!!!

格蕾丝对你的Instagram配图文字的建议？不要在实际的配图文字中为人物贴标签（那太“乱”），使用表情符号“让文字丰富多彩”。那话题标签呢？你必须讽刺性地使用它们！！！

7. TBTs have to ACTUALLY be TBTs. You aren’t fooling anyone if you TBT (Throwback Thursday) a recent photo.

想将以前的照片放上Instagram，那这些照片一定要真的是以前的照片。你不能用一张最近的照片冒充旧照。

“That’s simply not a throwback it’s just a ‘I forgot to insta this but I look cute,’” my sister said.

格蕾丝说：“那不是旧照，只是‘我忘记把这张最近的照片分享在Instagram，但我真的很可爱’。”

Instead, use TBTs for cute baby pics AND awkward middle school photos. “It’s funny,” according to our resident teen.

相反，将旧时可爱的婴儿照和青涩的中学照片放在Instagram上分享，格蕾丝说：“真的很有意思。”

8. Be ruthless when it comes to following people.

对于粉丝要狠心

Face it: We all want more followers, especially after the Great Instagram Purge of 2017. R.I.P. to the ~100~ or so followers I lost, never to be seen again.

承认吧：我们都想要更多粉丝。所以，失去的粉丝，不要再关注他们了。

“Make sure your ration [followers/following] is ON POINT!!” my sister said. She recommends unfollowing people who don’t follow you back, unless they are celebs.

“保证你有一定量的粉丝！！”格蕾丝说。她建议道，不关注你的人你也别关注他，除非对方是名人。

9. The Kardashians are a great example of what to do — and what NOT to do — on Instagram.

卡戴珊三姐妹是告诉你在Instagram上该做什么、不该做什么的好例子

Hate them or love them — or plain old love to hate them — you have to tip the hat to America’s Royal Family, the Kardashians. With millions of followers each, they know a thing or two about Instagram. But they also are prone to bad habits, just like us plebeians! So wise up, and pay attention to how the pros are doing things.

讨厌她们或者喜欢她们——或者由超级讨厌他们——你不得不承认“美国王室”卡戴珊三姐妹有数百万粉丝。她们知道如何玩转Instagram。但他们很容易养成坏习惯，就像我们这些平民百姓一样！聪明点吧，将注意力放在她们的优点是如何帮她们挣分上。

My sister singled out Kendall and Kylie as celebs who show you need to “slow your roll and don’t post as many selfies as them” but with one caveat:

格蕾丝选出肯德尔（Kendall）和凯莉（Kylie）作为名人代表，告诉你“放慢你的脚步，不要像她们一样发布那么多自拍”。她补充道：

“If you feel your look, live and post your photo.”

“如果你对你的外貌自信，那就尽情发布吧。”

SO TRUE!!!

说的真对！

10. Putting your account on private is just plain old weird.

将账户设置成私有相当奇怪

My sister says you should set your profile to public because like, you should have nothing to hide.

格蕾丝说，为了获得更多“赞”你应该讲账户设置成公开可见，因为你没有什么值得隐藏的。

Also, it gets you more followers… which is what you’re after, right?

这样做还能使你得到更多粉丝……这是你所追求的，不是吗？

11. Use the buddy system!

请好友帮你挑选

You know when you’re trying to decide between two pictures to upload, or maybe are struggling with which filter to apply! As the grand sea witch Ursula said in The Little Mermaid, “Life is full of difficult choices, isn’t it?”

当你在犹豫该上传哪张照片时，或者纠结用哪种滤镜时，就像《美人鱼》中的海巫厄休拉（Ursula）说的一样，“生活充满的选择，难道不是吗？”

BUT THE TEENS HAVE A SOLUTION TO YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA CONUNDRUM.

不过这个青少年有办法解决你的社交媒体难题。

It’s simple. My sister recommends having a buddy to confirm you’re making the right picture/filter choice. And in her words, “an honest friend is key.” (We’re actually each other’s buddy!)

很简单。格蕾丝建议请你的好友帮你确定选出合适的照片和滤镜。用她的话来说，“一位忠实的朋友是关键。”（我们是彼此的朋友！）

So go out there and find the Robin to your Instagram Batman!

去吧，蝙蝠侠，去找到你的罗宾！

12. And most important, have some fun and don’t take it too seriously. It’s Instagram, after all. In the wise words of our teen, “Life is too short. Eat dessert first.”

最重要的是，不要把它看得太严肃，它仅仅是娱乐而已。终究，它只是Instagram。用这个青少年的话来讲，“人生太短暂。先吃甜点吧。”

Happy ‘gramming!

希望你用Instagram分享快乐！

Vocabulary

cutthroat: 残酷的

agonizing: 痛苦的

garner: 获得

tastemaker: 时尚引导者

willy-nilly: 随意地

buffet: 自助餐

morsel: 少量

sparingly: 有节制地

adamantly: 固执地

plebeian: 平民百姓

caveat: 告诫